1. László Buzás Head of Department of Development Hajdú-Bihar County Council, Hungary UNICREDS Launch Event Truro, 27 April 2010

3. North Great Plain Region (NUTS 2) County Towns North Great Plain Region

4. Main regional indicators Area17 729 km 2 (19,1%) Population1 540 424 (15,3%) Density85,4 person per sq. km GDP (2008)~ 8 700 million EUR GDP per capita (PPS), % of EU-27 (2006) 42 % Unemployment rate (2007) 10,8 % Agriculture in ratio of the GDP 7,1%

5. INNOVATIVE REGION OF HEALTH INDUSTRY, AGRARIUM AND INFORMATICS Special fields of innovation: – Strengthening research basis of agricultural, thermal, life sciences’ significant research potential – Highly important sectors of global economy: Pharmaceutical Industry Genomics and diagnostics development Nanotechnology Functional foods Renewable energy – Related IT developments

6. Agriculture

7. Thermal waters and spas Debrecen Cserkeszőlő

8. UNESCO World Heritage: Hortobágy

9. Current status of higher education

10. University of Debrecen University College of Szolnok College of Nyíregyháza

11. Current status of higher education III. Students in higher education 2008 Full-time North Great Plain Region Institution higher level vocational education CollegeUniversity BScMSc 1-cycle (medical, law, pharmacy) Post- university PhD, DLA Total level basic number of students Debrecen4418306 43110 8651372 3604343821 545 Hajdúböszörmény4612304310000600 Nyíregyháza5531 79643 20500005 558 Jászberény023604770000713 Szolnok (inlcuding Mezőtúr)44563701 24000002 322 Total1 4853 6226 43516 2181372 3604343830 738

12. Our Vision Lifelong learning – Creating an adequate widerange basis – Development of language skills – Strengthening the relationship between education and economy Human resource development Development of adaptation and enterprenieurship skills Creating education offers in compliance with economic demands Creating equal opportunities „The Northern Great Plain of Hungary was awarded the Best European Region in Eastern Europe for FDI Strategy” (Financial Times’ FDI Magazine: European Cities & Regions of the Future 2010/11 Published: February 13, 2010 http://www.fdimagazine.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/3234)http://www.fdimagazine.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/3234

13. Expectations from UNICREDS Widening relationships and building new ones with Europe’s universities and regions New information in knowledge in the different levels of the UNICREDS 5-STEP Model Adaptive knowledge and practice for the growth and jobs of the region Development of Action Plan for the North Great Plain Region based on UNICREDS results and outputs Maintaining further co-operation with partners, co-operation in new projects